Comments on: I Can’t Believe I’m Writing This, But…http://www.harpyness.com/2011/11/03/i-cant-believe-im-writing-this-but/
As narrated by the most charming and vicious women on the internetFri, 16 Jan 2015 17:30:59 +0000hourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.8.5By: In the News: The Kardashian Backlash—Overreaction? « The Early Bird Catches the Wormhttp://www.harpyness.com/2011/11/03/i-cant-believe-im-writing-this-but/comment-page-1/#comment-77760
Wed, 23 Nov 2011 22:23:50 +0000http://www.harpyness.com/?p=21525#comment-77760[...] those reasons are certainly valid ones to perhaps stop watching the show and buying the gossip mags. But Kim Kardashian and her family have never been the best role models (hello, Khloe and your DUI [...]
]]>By: Endorahttp://www.harpyness.com/2011/11/03/i-cant-believe-im-writing-this-but/comment-page-1/#comment-76592
Sat, 05 Nov 2011 11:23:38 +0000http://www.harpyness.com/?p=21525#comment-76592@Anthrolady: I have to agree with PhDork. I think the ‘feminist’ aspects of the Kardashian show are just your standard ‘empowerfulment’ as the Harpies have called it. Just because you have money and power does not mean you are really embracing gender equality in any broad sense. And the way the Kardashians get that is by playing to stereotypes about women – as dumb, slutty, etc. – which do womankind no favors.

Besides, I don’t think American women lack as much power in their households as you think. The problem as I see it is that women may have a lot of say in their own families’ lives (a lot of people will report that their mother ruled the roost), but when it comes to activity in the public sphere, we are massively disadvantaged.

]]>By: Mackeyhttp://www.harpyness.com/2011/11/03/i-cant-believe-im-writing-this-but/comment-page-1/#comment-76586
Sat, 05 Nov 2011 09:38:21 +0000http://www.harpyness.com/?p=21525#comment-76586Hey Dorky, in particular this:
“And fuck those people, who consume other humans, salty, bitter, or sweet, and shit all over women for their own nasty pleasure.”

I’m reminded of what my mum used to say to us, “if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” I think it applies to people you know, and people you know by name/reputation only.

(Just to make sure I’m clear, critical analysis and research is whole other different ball park, and not what is meant by the “nothing nice to say” statement.)

]]>By: PhDorkhttp://www.harpyness.com/2011/11/03/i-cant-believe-im-writing-this-but/comment-page-1/#comment-76572
Sat, 05 Nov 2011 00:50:47 +0000http://www.harpyness.com/?p=21525#comment-76572Sorry this post was not useful for you, AnthroLady. Feel free to not read here. But Mama K being the manager of the family lady-business is hardly evidence of matriarchy or matrilineality, particularly when that business is trotting out an endless series of lady-bashing stereotypes. And let’s be clear: I did not bash or rant about the family. My ire is directed at those sick fucks who watch shows like theirs in order to delight in bashing them, for doing whatever they do, for well or ill.

I’m an Americanist and a scholar of popular culture, so I’m not saying “there’s nothing to learn from watching reality TV.” Au contraire, a careful reading of it reveals plenty about the gap between what we say we value and what we actually value as a culture.

]]>By: AnthroLadyhttp://www.harpyness.com/2011/11/03/i-cant-believe-im-writing-this-but/comment-page-1/#comment-76563
Fri, 04 Nov 2011 21:45:38 +0000http://www.harpyness.com/?p=21525#comment-76563Okay – so I might be coming out of left field here, but I have to defend my watching of the Kardashian empire.

First off, let me start out by saying I teach cultural anthropology. I love teaching it. I like teaching students about tolerance of other cultures and life choices and reminding them that they can judge up and down all they want but it really won’t get them anywhere.

I watch the Kardashin show as well. In fact I have found myself watching a lot of reality TV and sharing my analyses with my classes. I like to see how different aspects of American culture are highlighted in these shows and how they really, even if they are exaggerated point to how our cultural standards and norms dictate our belief system of gender roles. And for all of the crap that does get exaggerated in the Kardashian show, what is explicitly different than is expected of the patriarchy that is American society is how important the women are in that household. How much control they have, hell they are practically a matrilineal group in America! Matrilineal! The rest of our culture, although it is slowly changing now, it a patrilineal, man comes first, take the husbands name, men make the most money, crap-shoot.

We can bash the Kardashians, and bash the women who “gobble-up” the show, but maybe, just maybe if we get past the exaggerations of reality TV we can see that these women (to some extent) and showing other women that they too can be as important or more important in American households.

Maybe I am just looking at it more optimistically, and yes I agree that people should probably get lives, but I don’t think a blog post ranting about them is very useful.

]]>By: AlisonYounghttp://www.harpyness.com/2011/11/03/i-cant-believe-im-writing-this-but/comment-page-1/#comment-76532
Fri, 04 Nov 2011 02:20:01 +0000http://www.harpyness.com/?p=21525#comment-76532This reminds me so much of the hate Paris Hilton receives. She’s in a lot of ways seen more like a concept to society rather than a human being–if she’s really a cruel person, I can get her getting criticism, sure, fine, except I see her receiving only criticism on her looks, her sexual behavior, the assumptions that she is a waste of space because she’s rich and blonde and thus a “bimbo.”

We really are seeing the same thing with Kim Kardashian–a woman who decides that she’s going to embrace the sex scandal instead of letting it shame her, who is ambitious, who likes to take her of her appearance however she wants to.

Yeah, again, she could actually be a not-so-nice person, but I see more attacks on her looks, hers sisters’ looks, her sexuality, her ambition, yeah…you get the picture.

]]>By: Nadiahttp://www.harpyness.com/2011/11/03/i-cant-believe-im-writing-this-but/comment-page-1/#comment-76528
Fri, 04 Nov 2011 01:57:53 +0000http://www.harpyness.com/?p=21525#comment-76528Very soon after she filed for divorce, there was a suggestion by one of the (gazillions) of reports on it that it was her husband who was hoping to get into showbiz by marrying her. Haven’t heard that one again, now that she – who already happens to be plenty rich, what with her show and products – has been recast as a gold digger. Interesting, non?
]]>By: NefariousNewthttp://www.harpyness.com/2011/11/03/i-cant-believe-im-writing-this-but/comment-page-1/#comment-76526
Fri, 04 Nov 2011 01:00:53 +0000http://www.harpyness.com/?p=21525#comment-76526Here’s what it boils down to: Kim Kardashian made a mistake, the same mistake a bunch of other people have made. The only difference between her and anyone else is her fame and the price tag for her wedding. Every person snarking on her is doing it out of spite or lack of compassion. I’m pretty sure most other people wouldn’t enjoy the scrutiny that she is getting over her decision to marry.

We, as a nation, are an atrocious bunch of schadenfreude addicts and self-important, celebrity-obsessed weasels. Just my two cents.